Appearances Can Be Deceiving

As I said in the beginning, there are many people in this world that appear to be something that they are not. People that disguise themselves by wearing masks of religions, and that speak eloquent and fancy words. People that do not work for God, but against God, and this is why the Lord tells us what we find in Matthew 7:15 when we read “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” There is but one way for us to distinguish these types of persons from the rest, there is but one way that we can prevent from being deceived. The only way is to examine the fruits that they produce. In other words, although our first impression may be good or bad, although the appearance of a group or individual is good or bad, as true Christians we have to learn to wait on God. This is something that many will say places the believer at a disadvantage. But in fact the opposite is very true.

What happens is that once we receive conviction and we separate ourselves from all of those things that we have learned displease God, we will be accused by many saying that a true Christian is called to love. That as Christians we are called to love God and our neighbors. That we are called to forgive even those that may have seriously offended us, and that because of these calling we can never distance ourselves or stop sharing with a particular group or individual. I can tell you that there is some truth to these types of accusations; a Christian believer is called to love God and to love his neighbor. This is something clearly stated by our Lord in Matthew 22:37-40 when we read “Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” A Christian is called to forgive even those that have greatly offended us; this is something that is also clearly stated by the Lord as we find in Matthew 18:21-22 when we read “Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven”. Therefore, one truth is that Christians are called to love and to forgive. But another great truth is that a Christian is not called to share with the world. Christians are not called to be accomplices of the doctrines, rituals, and sects that serve only to drive a wedge between man and God. Our responsibility is to teach the truth and to preach the gospel of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. But if they are unwilling to hear, if they are unwilling to accept the truth and wish to continue in those things that do not please God, then we are called to separate ourselves from them. Look at how this is clearly reflected in Matthew 7:6 when we read “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”